Toe and foot vibrator



Dec. 23, 1941. A. GRAMPI 2,266,859

TOE AND FOOT VIBRATOR Filed June 1, 1940 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Dec.23, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE 2,266,859 A 'roE AND FOOT'VIBRATOR. Albert Grampp, N ew York, Y. Application June 1, 1940,Serial- No. 33 8,344

2 Claims. (91. 128-66) This invention relates to improvements in devicesfor the exercising and massaging of parts of the human body,particularly to an exercising and massaging apparatus for the toe andfoot muscles.

It is the principal object of my invention to provide such an apparatusin which revolving massage bodies, having a peculiar shape, are moved bythe feet of the person using the apparatus, while simultaneously beingsubjected to vibrations by means of an electrically controlled means.

Another object of my invention is the provision of such an apparatuswhich is comparatively simple and inexpensive in its construction, yetdurable and highly efiiicent in operation.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a massage andexercising device of the above character in which two so-called formrolls of substantially conical shape and subdivided into a plurality ofintegral sections are eccentrically supported on a common spindle whichis intermittingly subjected to certain vibrations by means of anelectric motor.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of such anapparatus which allows the turning of the rolls by the feet to bemassaged and exercised in order to strengthen not only the foot muscles,but also the legs, and the operation of which eases strain on the feet,and legs, alleviates aches and stimulates circulation.

Besides the tumbling movement imparted to the rolls or rollers whenbeing turned by the foot or feet, the same will also be subjected tohighly beneficial vibratory actions by means of an electric motordriving a cam shaft to operate the spring supported spindle carrying therolls or rollers.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will become morefully known as the description thereof proceeds, and will then bespecifically defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus constructed according to myinvention, partly in section.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 of Figure 1.

As illustrated, the apparatus comprises a baseplate carrying near itsends the posts or brackets H and I2 respectively, each of which has anopening 13.

The base In carries near its post ll, an electric motor l4 of suitabletype to the shaft of which is attached by means of a suitable coupling I6 or the'like, a spindle I! journaled' in suitable bearings in thebrackets l l and I2.

The spindle l1 carries near the inner faces of the posts II and I2, camsl8, I9, eccentrically arranged on said spindle. A frame or bracket 20for each of the posts II and I2 is held in place by means of bolts 2|carrying on their outer threaded ends wing-nuts 2| while their innerends are secured to said frame 20 after being passed through theopenings 13 in the posts H and I2.

Vertically disposed rods 23, 24 pass through the inwardly directedbranches of the frames 20, and springs 25 are wound about the rods 23,24

between the upper and lower branches of the frames to cushion the rodmovements. The lower ends of the rods 23, 24 carry knobs 26, 21respectively adapted to be intermittingly engaged by the eccentric camson the spindle H during its rotation by the motor shaft. The upper endsof the rods 23, 24 have pivotally attached thereto, as at 28, 29, theends of a spindle 30 carrying the rolls or rollers 3|, 32 eccentricallyarranged on said spindle 30 with their major parts below said spindle.

These rolls or rollers have substantially conically shaped bodies withtheir Wider ends facing one another in the middle as at 34, and theirouter faces are subdivided by notches 33 or the like into a plurality ofintegral portions and may be roughened or fluted in any desired manner,and it will be clear that also the spindle 30 may be divided at themeeting ends of the rollers so as to allow a removal and exchange of therollers when the spindle parts are swung about their end pivots 28, 29.

The use and operation of my apparatus will be entirely clear from theabove description by having simultaneous reference to the drawing, andit will be evident that the foot to be exercised or massaged when placedon the rollers is moved over the same to produce a massage effect by theresulting tumbling movement of the rollers on account of their eccentricarrangement on the spindle 38. The rotation of the spindle l1 during theoperation of the motor will intermittingly engage the cams eccentricallyarranged on said spindle with the knobs at the lower ends of the rodsand will impart to the spindle 30 and the rollers thereon intermittentvibratory movement cushioned by the springs 25 which is transferred tothe toes of the foot, to the legs and will thus exercise and massage thesame in an evidently beneficial manner.

described, comprising a base, brackets erected on said base and havingopenings intermediate their ends, a motor on said base, a spindledrivenby said motor coupled to the shaft of the same,

cams eccentrically arranged on said-spindle, a-

pair of frames held to said brackets by means passed through theiropenings, vertically disposed rods held by said frames and cushioned bysprings between the branches of said frames, knobs at the lower outerends of said rods adapted to engage said cams during the rotation ofsaid spindle by the motor, and a spindle pivotally secured to the upperends of said rods, massage rolls eccentrically arranged on said lastnamed spindle and subdivided into a plurality of integral flutedportions, said eccentrically arranged rolls to be submitted to atumbling movement by the feet and said motor operated cams and rodsimparting to said rolls an intermittent vibratory action.

2. In an apparatus for massaging and exercising the toes and feet, amotor, a pair of substantially conical rolls having roughed outer faces,a spindle on said apparatus on which said rolls are eccentricallydisposed, another spindle driven 'by said motor, cams eccentricallyarranged on said motor driven spindle, and spring cushioned rods havingknobs at their lower ends adapted to be engaged by said cams during therotation of said motor driven spindle, said rods supporting withtheirupper ends the ends of the spindle for said conical 'rolls pivotedthereto near the narrower ends of said conical rolls to impart to saidrolls an intermittent vibratory action.

, ALBERT GRAMPP.

